PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - A Cambodian fisherman throws a fishing net in the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh. AP Photo/Heng Sinith
Showing posts with label Tonle Sap River. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tonle Sap River. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Life on the Tonle Sap River
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - A Cambodian fisherman throws a fishing net in the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh. AP Photo/Heng Sinith
Saturday, June 06, 2009
“I don’t know how long I can keep fishing ... There are hardly any fish now”: Les Sofi, Tonle Sap fisherman
Muslims on Tonle Sap See Fishing Threat
By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 June 2009
By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 June 2009
Wrapped only in a sarong, under a cool breeze on the Tonle Sap river, Les Sofi slowly rowed his boat, extending his fish net beneath the surface of the water.
Les Sofi started fishing when he was a boy. “Fishing has been my daily task,” said the 25-year-old Cham fisherman, in Prek Raing village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. “I once could return home with 10 or 20 kilograms of fish each day.”
The number of fish Les Sofi could catch would earn his family 10 between $10 and $12.50 per day.
In two villages of Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, some 500 Cambodian Muslim families earn their livings by fishing. Several years ago, they come home with at least 10 kilograms of fish per day, found on the Tonle Sap river.
But that number is falling, and now some of them are turning to jobs on plantations or as motorcycle taxi drivers. Fishing communities all along the Tonle Sap, one of the richest lake systems in the world, have begun to see dwindling catches.
Like other fishermen in these river villages, Les Sofi said he had thought of abandoning his traditional job thanks to a dramatic decline in catches over the last several years.
“Before, there were riches in fish, but now I can hardly catch even a kilo of fish a day,” he said with a sad look.
Another fisherman, Sou Matt, 57, gave up his fishing three years ago because of a decline in his catches.
“The reason why the number of fish is falling is that there has been the widespread use of illegal fishing equipment,” explained the former fisherman, who has turned to work on a plantation.
Along the bank, on the other side of the Tonle Sap, Matt Man said he has also abandoned his family tradition career.
“I have now changed my job to work as a moto taxi driver,” said the 49-year-old. “I could no longer stand searching for more fish when there were none in the water.”
The village chief Re Mouse said at his house that most of the Cham fishermen in his village have sold their boats to buy motorcycles and turned to on-land jobs.
About 90 percent of the 430 families in Village Two are Muslim fishermen, according to the village chief.
Some fishermen claim that the falling number of fish in the river is due to the use of large-scale fishing equipment, especially during fishing bans between June and October.
Minister of Agriculture Chan Sarun and the head of its fishery administration, Nao Thuok, could not be reached for comment for this story.
The director of Phnom Penh’s fishery administration, Pen Phannarith, nonetheless, said he has constantly sent out his officials to monitor and deal with illegal acts of fishery.
“There have been no fishery offenses so far along the Tonle Sap river, from the outskirt of the city inwards,” he said, adding that he would start to monitor more closely next week.
Still, Les Sofi said he would not continue his tradition of fishing should his current catches remain so low.
“I don’t know how long I can keep fishing,” he said. “There are hardly any fish now.”
Les Sofi started fishing when he was a boy. “Fishing has been my daily task,” said the 25-year-old Cham fisherman, in Prek Raing village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. “I once could return home with 10 or 20 kilograms of fish each day.”
The number of fish Les Sofi could catch would earn his family 10 between $10 and $12.50 per day.
In two villages of Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, some 500 Cambodian Muslim families earn their livings by fishing. Several years ago, they come home with at least 10 kilograms of fish per day, found on the Tonle Sap river.
But that number is falling, and now some of them are turning to jobs on plantations or as motorcycle taxi drivers. Fishing communities all along the Tonle Sap, one of the richest lake systems in the world, have begun to see dwindling catches.
Like other fishermen in these river villages, Les Sofi said he had thought of abandoning his traditional job thanks to a dramatic decline in catches over the last several years.
“Before, there were riches in fish, but now I can hardly catch even a kilo of fish a day,” he said with a sad look.
Another fisherman, Sou Matt, 57, gave up his fishing three years ago because of a decline in his catches.
“The reason why the number of fish is falling is that there has been the widespread use of illegal fishing equipment,” explained the former fisherman, who has turned to work on a plantation.
Along the bank, on the other side of the Tonle Sap, Matt Man said he has also abandoned his family tradition career.
“I have now changed my job to work as a moto taxi driver,” said the 49-year-old. “I could no longer stand searching for more fish when there were none in the water.”
The village chief Re Mouse said at his house that most of the Cham fishermen in his village have sold their boats to buy motorcycles and turned to on-land jobs.
About 90 percent of the 430 families in Village Two are Muslim fishermen, according to the village chief.
Some fishermen claim that the falling number of fish in the river is due to the use of large-scale fishing equipment, especially during fishing bans between June and October.
Minister of Agriculture Chan Sarun and the head of its fishery administration, Nao Thuok, could not be reached for comment for this story.
The director of Phnom Penh’s fishery administration, Pen Phannarith, nonetheless, said he has constantly sent out his officials to monitor and deal with illegal acts of fishery.
“There have been no fishery offenses so far along the Tonle Sap river, from the outskirt of the city inwards,” he said, adding that he would start to monitor more closely next week.
Still, Les Sofi said he would not continue his tradition of fishing should his current catches remain so low.
“I don’t know how long I can keep fishing,” he said. “There are hardly any fish now.”
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Living on the edge
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Written by HENG CHIVOAN
The Phnom Penh Post
A home stands perilously close to collapsing into the Tonle Sap river in Prey Leap, just outside Phnom Penh, on National Road 6 earlier this month. The owner has since fled the property, which is no longer safe to live in. River dredging has left homes along the river at risk from eroding riverbanks. (Photo by: DAP-News)
Written by HENG CHIVOAN
The Phnom Penh Post
A home stands perilously close to collapsing into the Tonle Sap river in Prey Leap, just outside Phnom Penh, on National Road 6 earlier this month. The owner has since fled the property, which is no longer safe to live in. River dredging has left homes along the river at risk from eroding riverbanks. (Photo by: DAP-News)Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Phnom Penh street scene: Moatr Tonle
Young Cambodian couples gather on a board-walk near the banks of the Tonle Sap river during sunset in Phnom Penh February 9, 2009. Cambodia's UN-backed genocide tribunal has set February 17 as the start date for the trial of the first of five Khmer Rouge leaders blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million people in the 1970s. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Construction workers make camp near-by the development of new property along the banks of the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh February 9 2009. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Couples take rest near advertising for new property hanging along the banks of the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh February 9, 2009. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
The moon is seen at sunset as locals gather near the bank of the banks of the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh February 9, 2009. REUTERS/Adrees LatifWednesday, April 02, 2008
58 houses fell into the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh [- the villagers blame the sand dredging operation]
A view of the collapse scene (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)Tuesday, April 1, 2008
By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
At 4:00 PM, in Phnom Penh, not too far from the Japanese bridge, only a few meters away from National Road No. 5 leading to Battambang, the Tonle Sap river bank collapsed and took with it 58 houses, most of them simple dilapidated poor houses.
“The Samaky village, located in the Russei Keo commune, is in shock. We are working to evacuate the villagers and bring them to shelters on firm ground, as well as providing them with urgent items. All the boats have been commandeered for the circumstance,” Keat Chher, the deputy chief of the Russei Keo district, declared.
Several people, some of whom were children, were fished out from the river just in time by the rescue crew. But numerous villagers have disappeared, their relatives indicated. According to testimonies collected by police officers on the spot, there were “no victims, no people injured.” The rescue operation, which extended long into the evening, mobilized major resources, both in terms of human resources as well as equipment.
Even though the cause of the collapse is still unknown, some villagers have immediately pointed out the sand dredging operation which is taking place daily along the two shores of the Tonle Sap, and this issue brings in high emotion.
“The Samaky village, located in the Russei Keo commune, is in shock. We are working to evacuate the villagers and bring them to shelters on firm ground, as well as providing them with urgent items. All the boats have been commandeered for the circumstance,” Keat Chher, the deputy chief of the Russei Keo district, declared.
Several people, some of whom were children, were fished out from the river just in time by the rescue crew. But numerous villagers have disappeared, their relatives indicated. According to testimonies collected by police officers on the spot, there were “no victims, no people injured.” The rescue operation, which extended long into the evening, mobilized major resources, both in terms of human resources as well as equipment.
Even though the cause of the collapse is still unknown, some villagers have immediately pointed out the sand dredging operation which is taking place daily along the two shores of the Tonle Sap, and this issue brings in high emotion.
Police Save 5 After River Bank Collapse
By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
01 April 2008
Original report from Phnom Penh
01 April 2008
Police late Tuesday rescued five people from the banks of the Tonle Sap, 6 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, after a riverbank collapsed.
Mud along the shore fell into the river, taking with it 39 small wooden homes, and officials originally worried fatalities.
No one ultimately died in the collapse, but police fished five villagers out of the river.
Mud along the shore fell into the river, taking with it 39 small wooden homes, and officials originally worried fatalities.
No one ultimately died in the collapse, but police fished five villagers out of the river.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
River bank collapse near Russey Keo
A view of collapsed houses along the bank of the Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea 
A Cambodian girl swims as she carries her goods from her house which collapsed along the bank of the Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A view of collapsed houses along the bank of the Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A rescue boat patrols the site of collapsed houses along the bank of the Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodians carry their goods from houses which collapsed along the bank of Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
People take goods from collapsed houses along the bank of Basak river onto a rescue boat in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea 
Cambodians sit on top of the roofs of houses which have collapsed along the bank of the Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodians look at houses which have collapsed along the bank of the Basak river in Phnom Penh April 1, 2008. At least 40 houses were damaged by river bank erosion, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea 50-meter-long bank of Tonle Sap River collapses in Phnom Penh
PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A section of about 50 meter long bank of the Tonle Sap River collapsed on Tuesday afternoon in suburb Phnom Penh, drowning 38 poorly-constructed river-side houses but causing no human death so far.
The collapse occurred beside the National Road No. 5 in the Russy Keo District, some 300 meters north of the symbolic Cambodian-Japanese Bridge across the river, district governor Klang Hout told reporters on the scene.
No one was found dead but some family properties were lost, he said, adding that at lease a hundred residents were affected.
The reason of collapse was not clear yet, but overburden might be the answer.
In Cambodia, disadvantaged people used to build simple houses on river banks and feed on fishing and boating. Most of the times, the government is believed to be short of finance and personnel to replace these people to safe places.
The collapse occurred beside the National Road No. 5 in the Russy Keo District, some 300 meters north of the symbolic Cambodian-Japanese Bridge across the river, district governor Klang Hout told reporters on the scene.
No one was found dead but some family properties were lost, he said, adding that at lease a hundred residents were affected.
The reason of collapse was not clear yet, but overburden might be the answer.
In Cambodia, disadvantaged people used to build simple houses on river banks and feed on fishing and boating. Most of the times, the government is believed to be short of finance and personnel to replace these people to safe places.
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